Litigation Lawyers in Waterford

In Waterford, Wisconsin, civil procedure is clearly what it sounds like: it refers to the rules that govern how civil litigation is conducted.

In Waterford, Wisconsin, the civil procedure rules are meant to ensure that the civil litigation system is as efficient, accessible, fair, and inexpensive as possible.

Civil litigation, however, is inherently difficult. So, there is no getting around the fact that the civil procedure rules in Waterford, Wisconsin are also going to be somewhat convoluted and obtuse (or at least parts of them are). Remember, these rules govern every single thing that happens in a civil lawsuit, from the first complaint, to the last appeal.

Major Waterford, Wisconsin Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: Perhaps the most important part of filing a lawsuit in Waterford, Wisconsin is the complaint. The complaint is a document filed with a Waterford, Wisconsin court that lays out the plaintiff's (the person filing the suit) allegations against the defendant (the person being sued), as well as the relief that the plaintiff is seeking from the court.

Answer: For the defendant, the answer is normally the first document they file in a lawsuit. As the name suggests, it "answers" the plaintiff's complaint. The answer usually denies most, or all, of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If the allegations are factually correct, and the defendant knows this, the defendant might admit that the allegations are true, but because of extenuating circumstances, they should not be held liable. For example, in a lawsuit for battery, a defendant might admit that they did strike the plaintiff, but claim that they were acting in self-defense, which would negate or weaken the plaintiff's case.

Discovery: The civil procedure rules in Waterford, Wisconsin were written with the purpose of, among other things, avoiding surprises. For that reason, everyone immersed in a lawsuit goes into trial with a pretty good idea of what evidence the other side has. This is largely because of the discovery process, during which the attorneys for both sides are required to disclose (with some exemptions) all information relevant to the trial which they have in their possession. These disclosures come in multiple forms, such as simply sending boxes of documents, deposing witnesses, or submitting written questions to the other side, which the recipient is obligated to answer under oath.

Trial: It is really quite rare for civil lawsuits in Waterford, Wisconsin to go to trial, since the rules of civil procedure in Waterford strongly encourage early resolution to cases by dismissal of lawsuits that have no merit, and negotiated settlement of those that do. However, when neither of those things happen, the case goes to trial. This is when a judge and jury decide the questions of law and fact, respectively, raised in the case. The jury then issues a verdict, based on the evidence presented to them.

How Can a Waterford, Wisconsin Lawyer Help?

If you're facing any considerable legal issue in Waterford, Wisconsin, you can be pretty much certain that you'll face at least a few procedural complications that can hold up the process.

The rules of civil procedure in Waterford, Wisconsin are not always simple or intuitive. With that in mind, it's very important to have a brilliant attorney on your side, to help you through the process.